Man Utd
Scholes urges Manchester United to sell eight players and reshuffle defence
Scholes urges Manchester United to move on from eight players naming several defensive departures.
Paul Scholes has called on Manchester United to move on from as many as eight players this summer, identifying a mixture of established figures and emerging names as possible departures. He singled out Leny Yoro as a surprising candidate among those he believes should leave.
Defence was the most prominent area of concern. Scholes backed Matthijs de Ligt to start but said doubts remain over Harry Maguire despite the centre back having recently signed a new contract. “Look, I think he’s been really good and he’s brought himself back from the dead,” Scholes conceded. “I think he’s been sensational, what he’s done. I’m so, so pleased for him, but I’m thinking about a United team you want to win the league and the Champions League, and that’s where United should be aiming.
“I’m not sure you’d do that with Maguire, unless you’ve got someone like a Rio [Ferdinand] next to him, then possibly, yeah.”
On the flanks, Scholes suggested a clearout among fullbacks. Diogo Dalot avoided criticism in the conversation, but Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui were earmarked for exit. “They brought him in as a wingback and he’s not really played there,” Scholes said of Dorgu. “I’d probably sell. I’m not sure what position he is. Again, if you keep him, then he’s just a squad player.”
On Mazraoui, Scholes added: “Sell. I don’t know where he fits in. He’s been like a right-sided center half and they don’t play with three center halves any more. If there are three center halves, then you’d probably have him as one of five or six, but I think it’s probably time to let him go now.”
Luke Shaw won praise and a tough conclusion. “When he was playing consistently, I don’t think there is a better left back in the world , not just Europe,” Scholes said. “But if you’re asking me now—and he’s done alright appearance-wise this year—I’d sell him. He doesn’t play enough games.”
Midfield was described as a priority following Casemiro’s exit on a free transfer. “Another one who’s turned his fortunes, but they need strengthening in that position,” Scholes said of the Brazilian. He added of Manuel Ugarte: “I think he’ll go.” On Mason Mount he said: “I’d probably sell him—and I like him, he’s a great footballer,” and “But he’s never going to play in front of Bruno Fernandes. I’m not sure what other position he could play and he doesn’t play enough games.”
Scholes also suggested unsettled striker Joshua Zirkzee could leave after limited minutes and reported interest from Saudi Arabia.
Scholes’s full verdict listed the following: Senne Lammens Keep; Diogo Dalot Keep; Noussair Mazraoui Sell; Matthijs de Ligt Keep; Harry Maguire Sell; Lisandro Martínez Keep; Patrick Dorgu Sell; Leny Yoro Sell; Luke Shaw Sell; Mason Mount Sell; Bruno Fernandes Keep; Casemiro Release; Manuel Ugarte Sell; Kobbie Mainoo Keep; Matheus Cunha Keep; Joshua Zirkzee Sell; Amad Diallo Keep; Bryan Mbeumo Keep.
Man Utd
Fernandes Equals Ronaldo’s Man Utd POTM Record and Hunting Henry’s Assist Mark
Fernandes matched Ronaldo’s six PL Player of the Month awards and needs five assists in seven games.
Bruno Fernandes has drawn level with Cristiano Ronaldo as Manchester United’s most frequent Premier League Player of the Month winner after claiming the March 2026 award.
“It’s always good company to be in,” Fernandes told ManUtd.com in response to moving level with Ronaldo. “We know when his records are there, his name is going to be always around, so it’s quite common for anyone and everyone in the world of football.
“But it is obviously a huge honor and privilege for me to be close to him in this category.”
By winning a sixth, Fernandes moved ahead of Wayne Rooney, who won five. Paul Scholes and Marcus Rashford have four apiece, while Ruud van Nistelrooy won three. The draft of Player of the Month honours for Manchester United reads: Cristiano Ronaldo (6); Bruno Fernandes (6); Wayne Rooney (5); Paul Scholes (4); Marcus Rashford (4); Ruud van Nistelrooy (3).
The overall Premier League record for Player of the Month wins stands at seven, jointly held by Harry Kane, Sergio Agüero and Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool forward will soon be the last of that trio to leave the division and his current form does not suggest the record will be extended.
Fernandes is also chasing a longstanding single-season assist record. Thierry Henry set the mark at 20 in 2002–03, a total matched by Kevin De Bruyne in 2019–20. At this stage of 2025–26, Fernandes has 16 assists and seven games remaining; he needs five more to break the mark.
The underlying numbers underline the possibility. Fernandes has created 101 chances in the Premier League this season, 43 more than the next most creative player. Removing set pieces still leaves 66 chances from open play. He has nine of his 16 assists in the last 11 matches, and he has been utilised further forward under Michael Carrick than under former United manager Ruben Amorim.
Fernandes is contracted to Manchester United until the end of next season, with the option of another 12 months. He is already a four-time winner of Manchester United’s Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s win over Sporting hands Premier League an extra Champions League place
Arsenal’s win over Sporting secures a fifth-place Champions League spot for the Premier League. 2026
Arsenal’s 1–0 victory over Sporting CP guaranteed that fifth place in the Premier League will qualify for next season’s Champions League. That single result removed uncertainty for clubs fighting to finish in the top five and will have been welcomed by rivals outside north London.
English clubs had dominated the Champions League group stage, with five of the top eight being Premier League teams. Even after a mass exit of English sides in the round of 16, the early autumn performance left the division with a strong coefficient lead for the season.
Heading into the quarterfinals, England needed only one draw from any of the five remaining clubs to secure the extra continental spot. Arsenal provided the required result with a nervy win over Sporting CP.
That confirmation comes at a key moment in the league table. Manchester United sit third on 55 points with a +13 goal difference while Aston Villa are fourth on 54 and Liverpool fifth on 49 with a +8 goal difference. Chelsea lie close behind on 48 with a +15 goal difference. The race could theoretically stretch down to Fulham in ninth as the final seven games play out.
Manchester United’s surge under Michael Carrick and Unai Emery’s steadier form at Aston Villa have reshaped expectations for the run-in. Even Everton’s manager David Moyes acknowledged the unexpected nature of his club’s position. “I’d love to say it was [a possibility] as I’m trying to be more positive than I would normally be,” Moyes mused last month, “but for Everton to even be in the mix for Europe is unbelievable, whether it is Conference League or Champions League.”
On the coefficient table, England lead with a coefficient average of 25.013, Spain are second on 20.281 and Germany third on 19.714. Spain are the only nation that can possibly overtake England this term, which means England’s extra Champions League place is secured for next season.
Several scenarios remain that could swell the number of English clubs in Europe, including domestic cup outcomes and European trophy winners from the Premier League, but Arsenal’s result erased the primary uncertainty about a fifth-placed Champions League berth.
Man Utd
United take 25-man squad to Ireland with Martínez and Dorgu stepping up recovery
Martínez and Dorgu join United’s 25-man Ireland camp as injury returns reshape midseason plan ahead
Manchester United have taken a 25-strong group to Ireland for an intensive midseason training camp that includes Lisandro Martínez and Patrick Dorgu as they progress through injury recoveries.
A Portugal international has played in every United game—starting most of them—since a minor injury-related absence in September. He misses out through illness, with veteran third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton also remaining in Manchester for the same reason.
Martínez, who missed most of the 2025 calendar year because of an ACL tear, had been sidelined since the 2–2 draw against West Ham United on Feb. 10 with a calf problem. Dorgu has been absent from the last eight Premier League matches after limping out of January’s win over Arsenal. The Denmark international has returned to training on grass and being part of this camp should see him take the next steps on his road to recovery.
Dorgu had been deployed in a more advanced wide forward role under the Carrick era, and scored in consecutive landmark wins over Manchester City and the Gunners. His hamstring injury in the latter was viewed as a significant blow given his form and the lack of a natural alternative on that side of the pitch.
Matthijs de Ligt, out with a back injury since the start of December, is missing. BBC Sport has reported the Dutchman is yet to resume “meaningful” training, which suggests his return is not that close.
Several members of the club’s under-21s are absent because the U21 side are competing in the Premier League International Cup, facing Real Madrid Castilla in Tuesday’s quarterfinal. That explains the omission of Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Tyler Fredricson, Chido Obi and Shea Lacey. A handful of other academy players have been selected instead.
The simple answer is because they can. United’s calendar is unusually light this season: no European fixtures and early exits from the Carabao Cup and FA Cup have left the squad with a 40-game campaign, the shortest for the club since 1914–15.
United last played on Friday, March 20, drawing 2–2 with Bournemouth before an international break. Their next match is on Monday, April 13, against Leeds United at Old Trafford.
Scholes urges Manchester United to sell eight players and reshuffle defence
Salah’s Benchings Under Arne Slot Mirror His Entire Klopp Unused-Sub Record
